Eight people have now been arrested during a probe into the attempted assassination of a man convicted of one of Britain's biggest ever heists.

Paul Allen was left fighting for his life after being shot in the neck at a Woodford Green property owned by comedian Russell Kane in July 2019.

The former cage fighter, now 43, was jailed for 18 years in 2009 for his part in the 2006 raid on the Securitas depot in Tonbridge, Kent, in which a record £53 million was stolen.

After serving just six years and three months of his sentence, Allen left prison and was renting Kane's £1.2 million property in Malvern Drive.

Paul Allen, former cage fighter, now 43, was jailed for 18 years in 2009 for his part in the 2006 raid on the Securitas depot. Photo: SWNS

Paul Allen, former cage fighter, now 43, was jailed for 18 years in 2009 for his part in the 2006 raid on the Securitas depot. Photo: SWNS

On the night of July 11 six bullets were fired through a conservatory window.

Two men were quickly arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and firearms offences.

A man, aged in his 50s has since been released with no further action while a 28-year-old man remains under investigation.

But since then, six more have been arrested.

In September 2019 two men, aged 43 and 25, were arrested, followed by a 41-year-old man the following month and a 28-year-old woman in November.

After serving just six years and three months of his sentence, Allen left prison and was renting Kanes £1.2 million property in Woodford Green. Photo: SWNS

After serving just six years and three months of his sentence, Allen left prison and was renting Kane's £1.2 million property in Woodford Green. Photo: SWNS

All four were suspected of conspiracy to commit murder and are still under investigation.

Then in December 2019 and January 2020 two men aged 31 and 41 were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Both remain under investigation.

Detective Inspector Matthew Webb of the Met Police, said: “As our investigation continues, we remain very interested in hearing from anyone who has information.

“If you were on Malvern Drive around the time of the shooting did you notice anything unusual, people or vehicles, or something that just didn’t seem quite right? No matter how small or insignificant it may seem, your information could prove vital to the investigation.”

In the early hours of February 22, 2006, seven masked men brandishing guns burst into Securitas Cash Management Ltd.

They tied up 14 staff members and in just over an hour stole £53m belonging to the Bank of England.

The raid on the Securitas depot. Photo: SWNS

The raid on the Securitas depot. Photo: SWNS

The gang left almost £154m behind as they could not fit any more into their seven-and-a-half tonne lorry.

Cops have only managed to recover £21m and the location of the remaining £32m remains a mystery.

Allen fled to Morocco but was arrested alongside friend and fellow robber Lee Murray who remains in jail in the north African nation.

Allen was extradited and jailed for 18 years for conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to possess a firearm but was released just over five years ago after serving six years, three on remand.

He and five other men were sentenced to a total of 100 years for their roles in the robbery.